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Functions of Operating System

Last Updated : 29 Apr, 2025

An Operating System acts as a communication interface between the

user and computer hardware. Its purpose is to provide a platform on
which a user can execute programs conveniently and efficiently. The
main goal of an operating system is to make the computer environment
more convenient to use and to utilize resources most efficiently.

Operating System handles the following responsibilities:

Controls all the computer resources.

Provides valuable services to user programs.
Coordinates the execution of user programs.
Provides resources for user programs.
Provides an interface (virtual machine) to the user.
Hides the complexity of software.
Supports multiple execution modes.
Monitors the execution of user programs to prevent errors.

Functions of an Operating System

Function of OS
1. Process Management

Process management in operating system is about managing processes.

A Process is a running program. The life cycle of process is from the
moment program start until it finishes. Operating system makes sure
each process:

gets its turn to use the CPU

synchronized when needed
has access to the resources it needs, like memory, files, and
input/output devices.

It also handles issues like process coordination and communication,

while preventing conflicts such as deadlocks. This way, the OS ensures
smooth multitasking and efficient resource use.

Process State Diagram

Core Functions in Process Management:

Process Scheduling

Allocates CPU time to processes based on scheduling algorithms like

Round Robin or Priority Scheduling.
Ensures fair distribution of CPU time, avoiding starvation of lower-
priority processes.
Maximizes CPU utilization by determining which process runs at any
given time.
Process Synchronization

Coordinate multiple processes to ensure orderly execution and

prevent conflicts.
Prevents race conditions by ensuring that only one process can
access a shared resource at a time.
Uses synchronization mechanisms like locks, semaphores, and
monitors to coordinate process access.

Deadlock Handling

Prevents deadlocks by using strategies like resource allocation

graphs or avoiding circular wait conditions.
Detects deadlocks when they occur, allowing the system to identify
and resolve the issue.
Recovers from deadlocks by aborting or rolling back processes to
free up resources.

Inter-Process Communication (IPC):

Facilitates communication between processes through shared

memory, allowing processes to exchange data directly.
Uses message passing to send data between processes in different
address spaces.
Enables efficient data exchange and coordination in a multitasking
environment, improving system performance.

Read more about Process Management in OS

2. Memory Management

Memory management is an essential task of the operating system that

handles the storage and organization of data in both main (primary)
memory and secondary storage. The OS ensures that memory is
allocated and deallocated properly to keep programs running smoothly.
It also manages the interaction between volatile main memory and non-
volatile secondary storage.
 Memory Management

Key Activities in Memory Management:

Main Memory Management

Memory Allocation: Assigns memory to processes using techniques

like paging and segmentation.
Memory Deallocation: Frees memory when no longer needed.
Memory Protection: Prevents processes from accessing each other’s
memory.
Virtual Memory: Uses disk space as extra memory to run larger
processes.
Fragmentation: Manages wasted memory space (internal/external)
through compaction.

Secondary Memory Management

Disk Space Allocation: Organizes how files are stored on the disk
(contiguous, linked, indexed).
File System Management: Manages files and directories for efficient
data access.
Free Space Management: Tracks available space on the disk.
Disk Scheduling: Organizes the order of disk read/write requests.
Backup and Recovery: Ensures data is backed up and can be
restored after failure.

Read more about Memory Management in OS

3. File System Management

File management in the operating system ensures the organized

storage, access and control of files. The OS abstracts the physical
storage details to present a logical view of files, making it easier for
users to work with data. It manages how files are stored on different
types of storage devices (like hard drives or SSDs) and ensures smooth
access through directories and permissions.

File System Management

File System Management includes managing of:

File Attributes

File Name: Identifies the file with a name and extension (e.g., .txt,
.jpg).
File Type: Defines the format of the file (e.g., text, image,
executable).
Size: The amount of storage the file occupies.
Permissions: Determines who can read, write, or execute the file.

File Types

Text Files: Contain human-readable content (e.g., .txt, .md).

Binary Files: Store data in binary format (e.g., .jpg, .mp3).
Executable Files: Contain program code (e.g., .exe, .out).

Operations on Files
 Create: Allows users to create new files.
Read: Opens files to read their contents.
Write: Modifies the contents of a file.
Delete: Removes a file from the system.

Access Methods

Sequential Access: Reads data in order, from start to finish.

Direct Access: Jumps to a specific part of the file.
Indexed Access: Uses an index for quick data retrieval.

Read more about File System Management in OS

4. Device Management (I/O System)

Device management of an operating system handles the communication

between the system and its hardware devices, like printers, disks or
network interfaces. The OS provides device drivers to control these
devices, using techniques like Direct Memory Access (DMA) for efficient
data transfer and strategies like buffering and spooling to ensure
smooth operation.

Device Management

Major components in Device Management:

Device Drivers: The operating system uses device drivers to interact

with hardware devices. There are two types of device drivers:
 Kernel-space drivers run in the OS kernel, offering direct access to
hardware.
User-space drivers run outside the kernel and are more isolated,
providing safety but less performance.

Buffering & Caching:

Buffering temporarily stores data in memory to manage differences

in device speeds. Block devices (e.g., hard drives) use larger blocks of
data for buffering, while character devices (e.g., keyboards, mice) use
smaller, byte-by-byte buffering.
Caching improves access speed by storing frequently accessed data
in a faster storage medium (like RAM).

Spooling: Spooling manages data waiting to be processed, particularly

in devices like printers. The OS places print jobs in a spool (a temporary
storage area), allowing the CPU to continue other tasks while the
printer works through the queue. Other examples include mail spooling
(for managing outgoing email) and batch-job spooling (for managing
scheduled tasks).

Read more about Device Management in OS

5. Protection and Security

Protection and security mechanisms in an operating system are

designed to safeguard system resources from unauthorized access or
misuse. These mechanisms control which processes or users can access
specific resources (such as memory, files, and CPU time) and ensure
that only authorized users can perform specific actions. While
protection ensures proper access control, security focuses on defending
the system against external and internal attacks.
 Security

Access Control: The operating system ensures that processes and

users can only access resources they are authorized to. This is
achieved through mechanisms like memory-addressing hardware
(which keeps processes within their own address space) and timer
interrupts (which prevent processes from monopolizing the CPU).

User Authentication: A system identifies users through user IDs

(UIDs) or Security IDs (SIDs). During login, the operating system
verifies the user’s credentials, ensuring that only authorized users
can access their data or system resources.

Resource Protection: Mechanisms like file protection (ensuring only

authorized users can access or modify files) and device protection
(restricting direct access to device-control registers) ensure the
integrity of system resources, preventing unauthorized or harmful
use.

Security Against Attacks: Security mechanisms defend against

external threats like viruses, worms, denial-of-service attacks, and
identity theft. These attacks can misuse system resources, steal
sensitive data, or disrupt system operation. The OS works to prevent
these threats and minimize damage.

Read more about Security and Protection in OS

6. Additional Functions of the Operating System

Beyond core tasks like process and memory management, operating

systems also focus on system performance, resource utilization and
error detection. These functions ensure smooth operation, efficient
resource allocation and system reliability.

Control Over System Performance: The OS monitors system

performance by recording delays between service requests and
system responses. This helps identify bottlenecks and optimize
resource usage, ensuring efficient system operation.

Job Accounting: The OS keeps track of time and resources used by

various tasks and users. This information is valuable for auditing,
billing, and optimizing resource allocation among users and
applications.

Error-Detecting Aids: The OS produces dumps, traces, error

messages, and other debugging aids to detect and diagnose errors.
This proactive approach helps maintain system stability and aids in
troubleshooting issues.

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